Gotta love the intermittent (not starting) electrical problems...

[RedRider]

So I have a 2002 ranger, 4wd XLT off road, 4.0l, and I am having issues where the dam thing just does not start. By this I mean you turn the ignition on and nothing happens. The console lights come on but the engine does not turn over. This has happened for about a year, but it is more problematic now. The 'fix' has always been to let the thing sit for a spell. Yeah, dont ask me how walking away fixes the problem, but in this case it does.

Clues point to the clutch pedal position switch. I pulled it off and noticed that there is excessisve grease in it which could result in a bad connection. I cleaned off the grease and put it back in. Problem still happened. I even put a new clutch switch in and the same problem happend.

Not sure where to go from here? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[bmonee5]

maybe you have a bad connection on the wire going to your starter? or possibly a bad ground? I'm no mechanic but just my .02

 

[ASMODEAN]

Check the positive and negative cables coming from the battery. My BII did the same thing about a year ago.
I replaced the cables from the battery to the solenoid and down to the ground lug on the frame. The old cables were so brittle that the shielding would flake away in large pieces when I would bend them.

Here's a pic of the battery setup.

 

[RedRider]

Thanks for the tips.
Got a call from my brother today... upon recollection, his jeep used to do the same thing. His problem was the solenoid on the starter, which he fixed with just a gentle hit with the hammer. So this is three people pointing to the battery cables/satarter connection. I will play around with it and let yall know.

Thanks again.